Fordfan2006

My 03 has 246,000 miles on it and you can hear a whine coming from the engine. You can hear it when you rev it up a little like 3,000 Rpms and when you give it gas. Also when I turn completly to one direction the front end will hop or skip. Like if I'm turning left and have the wheel turned all the way it'll hop to the right a few times. I'm thinking of 2 things but I'd like to get your opinions. I think it could be the power steering pump or the steering box. Also it seems louder if I am towing something or trying to back up a trailer up a driveway.

Spannerhead

Is your power steering fluid leaking and/or low? Is the noise louder when you turn the wheel (especially when the car is not moving)?

Tackle

Suck out the fluid and put some new mercon v in it. See what happens.

Fordfan2006

no and it's in the middle where it should be. And yep

Fordfan2006

transmission fluid? I thought they made power steering Fluid for a reason.

Tackle

Lol. Vehicle manufactures have been using ATF for PS fluid for at least 30 years.

Even says so in the manual.

Fordfan2006

ah well I didn't know that.

4x4dave

Yeah even says so on Motorcraft mercon v bottles it can be used for power steering fliud

Spannerhead

Re:the original problem, I would suspect the pump. It would be fairly easy to pinpoint the source of the noise by having someone turn the wheel while you look under the hood.

ibd2328

iTrader: (2)

It's all hydraulic based fluid. ATF is probably better. That's what I used.

Did a write up on my gearbox rebuild somewheres and used it. Doesn't have to be Mercon or "v".